Iron support for attachment to an ironing board

ABSTRACT

An iron support including means for attachment to an ironing board, a pivotal arm extending from the attachment means, and a platform on the arm for swinging movement between a storage board position beneath the board and a use position extending beyond the board.

United States Patent [72] Inventor Helen P. llottns 36] Mlrlton Avenue, Camden, NJ. 08105 XXXAXUJ mww mn 22 2 ll/ 888 8 044 4 22 2 2 mmmLn m ea .n mmwmm wdkmunu oe ao SGNFHCM 2789038 1.1.1.2336 9999999 1111111 22 652 869 7 mm%wuwm 3 00 17 10 44836 6 ,2 ,3 ,9 111]] 3 1 wmm AHP

[54] IRON SUPPORT FOR ATTACHMENT TO AN Primary Examiner-Chancellor E Harris Attorney-Robert K. Youtie IRONING BOARD 6 Claims, 8 Drawing Figs.

CT: An iron support including means for attachment to an ironing board, a pivotal arm' extending from the attachment means, and a platfonn on the arm for swinging movement between a storage board position beneath the board and a use position extending beyond the board.

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SHEET 1 [1F 3 INVENTOR.

HELEN PBOTTOS Q fiM/f%-1i/ ATTORNEY.

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INVENTOR. HELEN P BOTTOS ATTORNEY.

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HELEN F? BOTTOS INVENTOR.

ATTORNEY.

IRON SUIPIPORT FOR ATTACHMENT TO AN llllIONllhlG BOARD BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION While there are, in the prior art, iron supports for attachment to an ironing board, such prior proposed devices have suffered certain difficulties and, accordingly, have not found general acceptance. For example, prior iron support devices were often lacking in adjustable positioning, both relative to the board, and of the iron carrier per se relative to the remainder of the support. For this reason, such prior devices lacked versatility in use, and were often an actual Ob..tfLICtlIl to the users work, rather than a convenience. Also, prior devices of this type were often inherently unstable and infirm, so that their use presented a hazard to the user.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is, therefore, an important object of the present invention to provide an iron support for attachment to an ironing board which overcomes the above-mentioned difficulties, is extremely versatile in use having a wide range of selective positions available, as desired, so as to facilitate substantially all types of ironing procedures.

It is another object of the present invention to provide an iron support of the type described which is adapted for attachment to an existing ironing board, but may also be incorporated in new ironing boards as original equipment thereof.

It is another object of the present invention to provide an iron support having the advantageous characteristics mentioned in the preceding paragraphs which is extremely simple to install and use, being durable and entirely reliable throughout a long useful life, affording great convenience and ease to the user, and which can be economically manufac tured for sale at a reasonable price.

Other objects of the present invention will become apparent upon reading the following specification and referring to the accompanying drawings, which form a material part of this disclosure.

The invention accordingly consists in the features of construction, combinations of elements, and arrangements of parts which will be exemplified in the construction hereinafter described, and of which the scope will be indicated by the appended claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. I is a partial top plan view showing an ironing board having an attachment thereto constructed in accordance with the teachings of the present invention, the attachment being shown in phantom in alternative positions relative to the board.

FIG. 2 is a longitudinal side view showing an ironing board in phantom, and illustrating an iron support attachment of the present invention in conjunction with a closed ironing board, as for storage.

FIG. 3 is a sectional elevational view taken generally along the line 33 of FIG. I, enlarged for clarity of detail, with the ironing board in phantom.

FIG. 4 is a bottom plan view of the iron support of the instant invention.

FIG. 5 is a sectional view taken generally along the line 5-5 of FIG. 3.

FIG. 6 is a side view taken generally along the line 6-6 of FIG. 3.

FIG. 7 is a partial sectional view taken generally along the line 7-7 of FIG. El.

FIG. 8 is a partial view similar to FIG. 6, showing a slightly modified embodiment.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Referring now more particularly to the drawings, and specifically to FIGS. I-3 thereof, there is shown therein 2m ironing board, generally designated I0, and an iron support, generally designated II, and attached to the hoardv The iron support II may be attached to an end of the board, as in FIG. 2, or along one side edge of the board, as in FIGS. 1 and 3. Of course, the support Ill may be attached to the board at any selected location thereof, as preferred by the user. The condition shown in FIG. 2 illustrates the storage position of the iron support, as with the ironing board collapsed and the iron support swung inwardly so as to occupy but negligible space.

The iron support includes an attachment structure I5 which is detachably connectable to the ironing board, as by releasable clamping engagement therewith. In particular, the attachment means I5 may include an elongate generally channel-shaped clamping member 116 having; one or more threaded clamping elements or screws I7 extending in threaded engage ment transversely through one wall of the channel member. In this manner, the channel member 16 may receive a flange 18 of the board It) and clamp to the latter as by tightening of the screws or bolts 17. For convenience, and to avoid protrusions, the clamping screws I7 may pass threadedly through the inboard or inner wall of the channel I6, being entirely beneath the ironing board III.

A bar or projection 20 extends transversely from the inner wall of the channel member 16, being rigidly fixed thereto and extending beneath the board It) inwardly away from the flange lid. An adjustment member ZI, say a threaded element or screw is engaged generally vertically through the distal end region of the bar or projection 20, having one end upstanding from the bar for abutting engagement with the underside of the ironing board. As best seen in FIG. 3, the adjustment member 21 is threadedly adjustable in the bar 2th and engageable with the board III to tilt the channel member In and entire iron support II to a desired inclination relative to the ironing board III. Thus, the clamping means I6, I7, and the angle adjustment means 20), 2I combine to define the attachment means I5 and afford a versatility of attachment angle with respect to the ironing board. The web of channel I6 may have spaced through holes IQ for receiving fasteners or screws, as for attachment to a wooden board or table. In such case, the adjustment member 2i may be replaced by a wood screw.

Integral with or fixedly secured to the underside of the channel In and bar ZII, say at the juncture thereof, may be a generally flat plate 22. Beneath the plate 22, secured in facing relation therewith, is a nether plate 23, which may be detachably secured in facing engagement with the underside of the upper plate 22, as by threaded fasteners 24. The nether plate 23 may have in its upper side, facing the upper plate 22, a recess or hollow 25, and be provided with a depending, externally threaded nipple or tube 26 opening upwardly into the hollow or recess 25. The plate 23 and its depending tubular portion or nipple 26 provide a journal bearing as will appear more fully hereinafter.

A swingable arm is generally designated 3 which may be of generally cylindrical or tubular configuration, including a generally upright inner portion SI extending rotatably upwardly through the nipple 2b and terminating at a flared upper end 332 within the recess A washer 33 may be circumposed about the upper end region of the arm portion III, within the recess 25, to aid in retaining the arm portion in position within the nipple as. It will now be appreciated that the upstanding inner end portion Sill of the arm 34 is rotatably journaled in the nipple portion or journal 26 depending from the nether plate 233. A deformable annular member or sealing ring 34, may be circurnposed about the inner arm portion 3i, engageable with the iower end of the externally threaded nipple an; and, an in ternally threaded collar 35' may be threadedly circumposed about the nipple 2n and provided with an internal shoulder 36 engageable with the annular member E l to deform the latter into engagement with the arm portion 31. In this manner, the arm portion 31 may be rotatable within the nipple 26, and the collar 35 may be rotated in its threaded engagement with the nipple to selectively apply more or less frictional holding by the annular member 34 against the received arm portion.

Extending generally laterally from the lower end of the inner arm portion 31 is a laterally extending intermediate arm portion 37, which is swingable about the generally upright axis of the inner arm portion. Ari outer arm portion 38 extends generally upwardly from the distal end of the lateral arm portion 37 and carries an iron supporting platform 40 mounted on the arm 30 by mounting means 41. The mounting means 41 may contain asbestos or other insulation to prevent heat transfer to the arm.

The platform 40 may include a generally flat plate portion 42 configured to taper toward one end, generally in the form of an iron; and upstanding edge rails or flanges 43 and 44 extending conformably along opposite sides of the plate portion and convergent toward one end thereof. The other end of plate portion 42, remote from the tapered configuration, may be provided with a depending flange 45, if desired. The platform 40 is thus adapted to receive and support on the plate portion 42 a hand iron, and is normally disposed in a declining relationship toward its tapered end for retaining engagement of the sidewalls or flanges 43 and 44 with adjacent portions of a received iron. This condition is shown in FIG. 6, where an iron is shown in phantom and designated 46. Of course, the iron 46 may be conveniently removed from and replaced on the platform 40, as by elevation from the platform or removal through the open upper end thereof.

The mounting means 41 may include a plate 47 extending transversely across the upper end of the outer arm portion 38, and provided with a depending tubular portion 48 rotatably receiving the upper end of the outer arm portion. Thus, the plate 47 is pivotally or rotatably supported in a generally horizontal plane for rotation about the generally upstanding axis of the outer arm portion 38. The tubular portion 41 may be threaded or otherwise rotatably retained on the outer arm portion 38, and is located directly beneath and in facing relation with the underside of the platform plate portion 42. In order to mount the platform 40 at a desired angle of declination toward its tapering end, there may be provided suitable spacer means 49 interposed between the plate 47 and platform 40, as best seen in FIG. 6. The spacers 49 may be circumposed about fasteners 50 securing the plate 47 to the platform plate portion 42. Also, the plate 47 may be deformed, as at 51, to achieve the desired inclined relation of the platform. Advantageously, the pivotal axis of rotation of the platform 40 about the outer arm end portion 38 extends upwardly at a location spaced rearwardly from the center of gravity of an iron 46 on the platform. This affords a desirable degree of stability in that the platfonn 40 does not tend to rotate under the weight of an iron.

While the mounting means 41 has been illustrated as including the spacers 49 and fasteners 50, which substantially rigidly connect the platform 40 to the plate 47, it is appreciated that other suitable connection means may be employed. For example, it may be desired to employ resiliently adjustable means, such as coil springs, or the like.

Another embodiment of mounting means is shown in FIG. 8, there being generally designated 41a. The mounting means 411: may include a ball socket 48a fixed on the underside of a platform 40a and opening downwardly. Provided on the end of outer arm end portion 38a, fixed thereto, may be a spherical member or ball 55 universally rotatable in the socket 48a. A holding means, such as a setscrew 56 may be threaded through the socket 480 for holding engagement with the ball, whereby the platform 40a is maintained at a desired angle.

From the foregoing, it is seen that the present invention provides an iron support for attachment to an ironing board which fully accomplishes its intended objects and is otherwise well adapted to meet practical conditions of manufacture and use.

Although the present invention has been described in some detail by way of illustration and example for purposes of clarity of understanding, it is understood that certain changes and modifications may be made within the spirit of the invention.

I claim:

1. An iron support for attachment to an ironing board, said support comprising attachment means for detachable connection to the underside of an ironing board, an arm extending pivotally from said attachment means for swinging movement between an extended position beyond said board and a retracted position beneath said board, a platform at the free end of said arm, and mounting means mounting said platform on said arm for swinging movement therewith between an extended use position beyond the board and a retracted storage position beneath the board, said attachment means comprising an elongate clamp for extension along and releasable clamping engagement with an edge of the board, a transverse projection on said clamp for extending inwardly beneath the board, and an adjustment member extending adjustably upwardly from the distal end of said projection for abutting engagement with the underside of the board for adjusting the inclination of said clamp and arm.

2. An iron support according to claim 1, said mounting means being pivotally connected to said arm to mount said platform for selective rotative positioning relative to said arm.

3. An iron support for attachment to an ironing board, said support comprising attachment means for detachable connection to the underside of an ironing board, an arm extending pivotally from said attachment means for swinging movement between an extended position beyond said board and a retracted posit beneath said board, a platform at the free end of said arm, and mounting means mounting said platform on said arm for swinging movement therewith between an extended use position beyond the board and a retracted storage position beneath the board, said mounting means comprising a plate secured on the underside of said platform, spacer means selectively interposed between said plate and platform to mount the latter at a selected inclination, and pivot means interconnecting said plate and the free end of said arm.

4. An iron support according to claim 3, said arm including an inner portion depending pivotally from said attachment means, a lateral portion extending laterally from said inner portion, and an outer portion upstanding from said lateral portion, and said mounting means being pivotally mounted on said outer arm portion.

5. An iron support according to claim 4, in combination with means frictionally retaining pivotal arrn action at said inner arm portion to prevent undesired arm swinging movement.

6. An iron support for attachment to an ironing board, said support comprising attachment means for detachable connection to the underside of an ironing board, an arm extending pivotally from said attachment means for swinging movement between an extended position beyond said board and a retracted position beneath said board, a platform at the free end of said arm, mounting means mounting said platform of said arm for swinging movement therewith between an extended use position beyond the board and a retracted storage position beneath the board, and means frictionally retaining pivotal arm action at said inner arm portion to prevent undersired arm swinging movement, said platform being inclined, and rails on said platform to retain an iron in position thereon, the pivotal axis of said mounting means being located to extend above the center of gravity of an iron in position on said platform for inherent stability of said iron and platform. 

1. An iron support for attachment to an ironing board, said support comprising attachment means for detachable connection to the underside of an ironing board, an arm extending pivotally from said attachment means for swinging movement between an extended position beyond said board and a retracted position beneath said board, a platform at the free end of said arm, and mounting means mounting said platform on said arm for swinging movement therewith between an extended use position beyond the board and a retracted storage position beneath the board, said attachment means comprising an elongate clamp for extension along and releasable clamping engagement with an edge of the board, a transverse projection on said clamp for extending inwardly beneath the board, and an adjustment member extending adjustably upwardly from the distal end of said projection for abutting engagement with the underside of the board for adjusting the inclination of said clamp and arm.
 2. An iron support according to claim 1, said mounting means being pivotally connected to said arm to mount said platform for selective rotative positioning relative to said arm.
 3. An iron support for attachment to an ironing board, said support comprising attachment means for detachable connection to the underside of an ironing board, an arm extending pivotally from said attachment means for swinging movement between an extended position beyond said board and a retracted posit beneath said board, a platform at the free end of said arm, and mounting means mounting said platform on said arm for swinging movement therewith between an extended use position beyond the board and a retracted storage position beneath the board, said mounting means comprising a plate secured on the underside of said platform, spacer means selectively interposed between said plate and platform to mount the latter at a selected inclination, and pivot means interconnecting said plate and the free end of said arm.
 4. An iron support according to claim 3, said arm including an inner portion depending pivotally from said attachment means, a lateral portion extending laterally from said inner portion, and an outer portion upstanding from said lateral portion, and said mounting means being pivotally mounted on said outer arm portion.
 5. An iron support according to claim 4, in combination with means frictionally retaining pivotal arm action at said inner arm portion to prevent undesired arm swinging movement.
 6. An iron support for attachment to an ironing board, said support comprising attachment means for detachable connection to the underside of an ironing board, an arm extending pivotally from said attachment means for swinging movement between an extended position beyond said board and a retracted position beneath said board, a platform at the free end of said arm, mounting means mounting said platform of said arm for swinging movement therewith between an extended use position beyond the board and a retracted storage position beneath the board, and means frictionally retaining pivotal arm action at said inner arm portion to prevent undersired arm swinging movement, said platform being inclined, and rails on said platform to retain an iron in position thereon, the pivotal axis of said mounting means being located to extend above the center of gravity of an iron in position on said platform for inherent stability of said iron and platform. 